WELCOME TO MIDDLETON CUM FORDLEY

Middleton and the nearby Fordley settlement were founded on the mix of agricultural land interspersed with marshland of the area. Middleton village itself is located about 3 miles inland from the North Sea coast and is part of the highly acclaimed Suffolk Heritage Coastal area. The Parish comprises three distinct areas, the main village straddling the 5 metre contour near the river and marshes; Middleton Moor on higher ground to the north west and Fordley, further west again.

Much of Middleton’s northern boundary is defined by the Minsmere River and it is surrounded by the parishes of Kelsale, Yoxford, Westleton, and Theberton cum Eastbridge.  Five miles to the south west is the traditional market town of Saxmundham and Leiston, famed for its Garrett agricultural engineering history is 3 miles, or so, to the south. Local attractions include the renowned RSPB Minsmere Bird Reserve and the internationally recognised Snape Maltings concert hall. The ancient Roman port of Dunwich, now mainly lost to the sea, is nearby, as are the popular resorts of Aldeburgh to the south and Southwold and Walberswick to the north.

There were about 300 people, listed in a recent electoral register of the parish, living in some 170 homes; of these about 10% are used as holiday homes or are vacant.

The village church, Holy Trinity, is still a focal point of the community with the adjacent primary school recently rated 'Good' by OFSTED. The Village Hall and The Bell Inn Public House are the main social centres of the village and the Recreation Ground is well provided with play equipment that is used by both local residents and many from further afield.